Loma Linda Violinist Wins Guild Competition

The Westmont Music Department held its ninth annual Instrumental Guild Competition with six finalists performing virtually for college scholarships. A virtual concert of the competition became available March 5 with violinist Sophia Chan of Loma Linda receiving up to $10,000 in annual music scholarships funds (up to $40,000 for four years) to study at Westmont. The other finalists received additional music scholarships.

Chan, who performed “Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso in A minor Op. 28 by Camille Saint-Saëns, is a high school senior who began studying violin at age 5 and currently studies with Dr. Sarah Vendsel Dudas. She is co-concertmaster of the Claremont Young Musicians Orchestra (CYMO) and performed at the Walt Disney Concert Hall with violinist Bing Wang as part of the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Sounds About Town series in 2019.

The other guild finalists were Gabriel Kong (violin) of Gilroy; David Shiang (piano) of Oak Park; Jesse Nieman (piano) of Portland, Oregon; Joshua Wang (cello) of Pasadena; and Ethan Dempsey (flute) of Porter, Texas.

The Guild for Music at Westmont funds the Guild Scholarship program. For information about becoming a guild member, please contact the Westmont music office at (805) 565-6040.